Harris on edge for Eden Park return

Kiwi recruit Mike Harris will finally get a first-hand chance to show the Blues what they missed when the Queensland Reds take on Super Rugby's "sleeping beasts" on Friday night.

Queensland's round-10 clash at Eden Park holds special significance for Harris, who was overlooked by the Auckland-based franchise before the Reds pounced to sign him in late 2010.

The former New Zealand Schoolboys and under-20s back was a revelation for the Reds in their charge towards the 2011 crown before being cut down by a season-ending knee injury.

Rubbing extra salt into his wounds was the fact he sustained the patella injury just a week before Queensland was set to face the Blues at Lang Park.

A North Harbour product, Harris admitted he had looked forward to playing the Aucklanders all season until disaster struck.

"Obviously, I'm pretty excited to get out there and play a team that I was on the fringes for for a couple of years," the Reds superboot said.

"There's a bit more meaning behind that for myself."

He will have his parents among a large family contingent at Eden Park but his supporters will also be inside the enemy camp with his North Harbour mentor Jeff Wilson the Blues skills coach.

Former All Black Wilson went in to bat for Harris in a big way in 2010 trying to help him to gain a NZ Super Rugby contract, first with the Blues and then with other provinces, but with no joy.

The closest he came was as a member of the Blues' wider training squad.

Now a serious Wallabies prospect due to an Australian-born grandmother, Harris is looking to keep his unbeaten record at the NZRU's spiritual home after enjoying NPC and representative age success there.

He is expected to line up at inside centre, opposite destructive All Blacks Ma'a Nonu and Rene Ranger in the midfield, with Ben Lucas likely to start at five-eighth in an injury-riddled Reds backline.

Semi-finalists last year, the last-placed Blues have been 2012's major disappointments but all at the Reds are wary about the under-achievers clicking into gear.

"They'll be disappointed with the way they've gone this time but, at the same time, I think they're a bit of a sleeping beast and they are a team that can bite you if you don't turn up so we really have to be on our game," Harris said.

"They love to attack and they don't try to hide that. They love to run the ball and they've got good skilled players right throughout their team and, if their offloads stick, they're definitely hard to stop."

Wallabies winger Digby Ioane is set to make his return from suspension next to Harris in the centres while there is hope fellow Test back Anthony Faingaa (foot) can come back on the bench.